Glancing back as we move forward in Lay Speaking Ministries
As we prepare to attend our first combined 2009 Session of the Indiana Annual Conference, there are many memories from each end of the state that we all will remember and there are people that we will remember who have had a special influence on us as Christian people.
We first lift up the name of Bruce Palmer, one of our former Directors of Lay Speaking Ministries, who passed away this year. Bruce is remembered by many in the old Fort Wayne District, for all he did, not only as a Coordinator of Lay Speaking Ministries in his district, but also what a difference he made in people’s lives.
As Directors of Lay Speaking Ministries, we have been meeting together to pull our two programs into one program. This is and will be a big job for the new Director of Lay Speaking for the Indiana Conference. It will require cooperation like we have never experienced before.
Our hope is to present a common face to all within the Indiana Conference as people travel from city to city and district to district. That no matter where they are the Lay Speaking Ministries Program offered will be the same product.
We also are hoping to be able to reach out to our neighboring states by listing all of our Lay Speaking Academies on the Indiana Conference Web site. This will enable our neighbors in Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan and Illinois a chance to attend one of the classes they otherwise would be unable to attend in their location. So the Laity Page will become not only an informational section, but also a teaching and new area that all can access.
We face many challenges in the coming year 2010 in Lay Speaking Ministries but we are confident that all will rise to the challenge. God is our leader and we know that when God is in our midst and in our challenges, we cannot fail.
We thank all of the many instructors, students and district coordinators who have made both of our programs successful and have helped build the Laity Leadership in our congregations, district, and our new Indiana Conference.
-- Ken Adams, NIC Director of Lay Speaking Ministries
-- Nancy Low SIC Director of Lay Speaking Ministries